Shakhtar boss in pre Celtic blast as Igor Jovicevic issues Champions League demand

Igor Jovićević has admitted his Shakhtar Donetsk players already had one eye on Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Celtic. Shakhtar picked up all three points thanks to a stoppage time winner from Oleg Ocheretko to go top of the Ukrainian Premier League. However they were far from at their best against Chornomorets - who are yet to win this season.

They were off the back of a surprise 4-1 rout of RB Leipzig in midweek and Jovićević reckons many of his squad had their head turned towards their next European clash when they face Ange Postecoglou 's men in Warsaw. He said: "These are completely different emotions. Great opponent with great players and team actions. Today we already switched to Celtic.

"Players want to specifically play a full match and immerse themselves deeply. I forbade the footballers to think about Celtic, but, you know, they are young lads, we are a young team, and not on purpose, but somewhere in the subconscious, they think about the fact that in four days there is a match in the Champions League. And maybe somewhere they shared the concentration for today's game.

"I can't blame them for anything - this is a normal process. And we have to teach them, when we build a team, that after the Champions League and a burst of energy, it is necessary to be able to play at the same high level in the championship.

"Ukrainian Premier League is the basis of our process, because it is a marathon, stability, emotional balance. And I ask the team to always play regularly and consistently. Then we can say that we have a team."

Jovićević proceeded to give credit to their opponents Chornomorets who made it a difficult afternoon for the Donetsk side by taking a ninth minute lead and they weren't begged back